Koenigsegg

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the Swedish car manufacturer. For the former small German state,
see Knigsegg.
Koenigsegg Automotive AB

Type

Aktiebolag

Industry

Automotive

Founded

1994[1]

Founder

Christian von Koenigsegg

Headquarters

ngelholm, Scania, Sweden

Key people

Christian von Koenigsegg

Products

Super car

Profit

$580,000-2,210,000 per car

Owner

Christian von Koenigsegg

Website

koenigsegg.com

Koenigsegg Automotive AB (/kns/; Swedish pronunciation: [kns] ( listen)) is a Swedish

manufacturer of high-performance sports cars, also known as hyper-cars, based in ngelholm.
Contents
[hide]

1 Company

2 History

2.1 Prototypes and production

2.2 Attempted purchase of Saab

3 Models

3.1 List of Models

4 Records

5 Awards

6 References

7 External links

Company[edit]

Koenigsegg CCX

The company was founded in 1994 in Sweden by Christian von Koenigsegg, with the intention of
producing a world-class supercar. Many years of development and prototyping led to the company's
first street-legal production car delivery in 2002.
In 2006 Koenigsegg began production of the CCX, which uses an engine created in-house
especially for that vehicle. The CCX is street-legal in most countries, including the US.
Apart from developing, manufacturing and selling the Koenigsegg line of supercars, Koenigsegg is
also involved in "green technology" development programmes beginning with the CCXR ("Flower
Power") flexfuel supercar and continuing through the present with the Agera R. Koenigsegg is also
active in development programs when it comes to plug-in electric cars' systems and nextgeneration reciprocating engine technologies.
In March 2009 the Koenigsegg CCXR was chosen by Forbes to be one of the ten most beautiful
cars in history.
[2]

In December 2010 the Koenigsegg Agera won the BBC Top Gear Hypercar of the Year Award.

History[edit]
Prototypes and production[edit]

Koenigsegg Geneva Auto Show 2011

The initial design of the Koenigsegg CC was drawn by Christian von Koenigsegg. He then took his
sketches to Industrial Designer David Crafoord in order for him to realise the sketches as a 1:5 scale
model. David then laid his personal touch to the design brief and finished the model. This model was
later scaled up in order to create the base plug for the initial Koenigsegg prototype that was finished
in 1996. During the next years the prototype went through extensive testing and several new
prototypes were built.
Von Koenigsegg got the idea to build his own car after watching the Norwegian stop-motion
animated movie Pinchcliffe Grand Prix in his youth. He took his first steps in the world of business in
his early 20s running a trading company called Alpraaz in Stockholm, Sweden. Alpraaz exported
food from Europe to the developing world. The success of this venture gave von Koenigsegg the
necessary financial standing to launch his chosen career as a car manufacturer.
[3]

Initially, Koenigsegg Automotive was based in Olofstrm. In 1997 the company needed larger
facilities and moved to Margretetorp, just outside of ngelholm. However, on 22 February 2003, one
of the production facilities caught fire and was badly damaged. From 2003 and on Koenigsegg has
converted two large fighter-jet hangars and an office building into a car factory. Since the factory is
located on the still-active ngelholm airport, clients can arrive by private jet next to the factory.
Koenigsegg controls and uses the former military runway for shakedown runs of production cars and
high speed testing.
The Koenigsegg badge was designed in 1994 by Jacob Lftman, based on the heraldic coat of arms
of the Koenigsegg family. The shield has been the family's coat-of-arms since the 12th century when
a family member was knighted by the Germany-based Holy Roman Empire.

Attempted purchase of Saab[edit]

On June 11, 2009 the media reported that Koenigsegg Group, consisting of Koenigsegg Automotive
AB, Christian von Koenigsegg, Brd Eker and a group of investors had signed a letter of
intent with Saab to take over the brand from General Motors. General Motors confirmed on June 16
that they had chosen Koenigsegg Group as the buyer of Saab Automobile. The deal, set to close 30
September 2009, included US$600 million in financing from the European Investment Bank,
guaranteed by the Swedish government. By comparison, in 2008 Koenigsegg with its staff of 45
produced 18 cars at an average price of $1 million each; Saab employed 3,400 workers and made
more than 93,000 cars.
[4]

[5]

General Motors announced on August 18 that the deal had been signed although certain financing
details remained to be completed. On September 9, 2009, Koenigsegg announced that BAIC was
going to join as a minority stakeholder in Koenigsegg.
[6]

In November 2009 Koenigsegg decided not to finalise the purchase of Saab and therefore left the
negotiations. The timing uncertainty of finalization of the take over was the reason Koenigsegg
stated for leaving the deal.
[7]

Models[edit]

Koenigsegg CCGT

A Koenigsegg CC prototype was first publicised in 1996, while the full carbon fibre production
prototype was finally unveiled at the 2000Paris Motor Show. The first customer took delivery of a
red CC8S in 2002 at the Geneva Auto Show and four more cars were built that year. Koenigsegg
was established in Asia later that year with a premiere at the Seoul Auto Show. In 2004 the
new CCR was unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show; only 14 were ever made.
In 2006 Koenigsegg introduced the CCX, a new model, that was created in order to meet worldwide
regulations for road use. This meant the cars had to go through extensive development in order to
reach the latest and most stringent safety and emission standards that the world's authorities
demanded; Koenigsegg had to, for example, develop their own engines and other related
technologies. Furthermore, Koenigsegg is the only supercar and low-volume manufacturer to pass
the new European pedestrian impact tests. Just after Koenigsegg passed this test, the test
requirement was deemed too complicated for low-volume manufacturers to cope with. So it is now
not necessary to meet these regulations if the production volume is less than 10,000 cars annually a
single model.
In 2007 Koenigsegg premiered the CCXR, a biofuel/flexfuel version of the CCX. The car features a
modified engine, fuel system, and engine management system that enables the car to run on regular
gas or ethanol, and in any mixture between these two fuels. Ethanol has a higher octane rating
compared to regular fuel and has an internal cooling effect on the combustion chamber, which allows
increased performance.
In 2009 Koenigsegg released information about a special edition car called the "Trevita", of which
only three will be made. The Trevita, which translates into English as "three whites", has a body
made entirely of Koenigsegg's proprietary material consisting of diamond-coated carbon fibre.
The Trevita is based on the CCXR, and therefore produces 1,018 hp (759 kW) when running on
biofuel.
[8]

Sound of Koenigsegg
Agera

MENU
0:00

The Koenigsegg
Agera at Goodwood

Festival of Speed 2010

Problems playing this file? See media

help.

In 2010 Koenigsegg released information at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show on a new model called
the Agera, which translates into English as "take action/act". The Agera features a Koenigsegg
developed 5.0-litre variable geometry twin-turbo V8 engine capable of 910 hp (679 kW), coupled to a
newly developed 7-speed gearbox. The Agera's design follows a clear lineage from the previous
Koenigsegg supercars, but adds many special new features, such as a wider front track, new styling
and aero features, and a new interior; including a new lighting technique they call "Ghost Light,"
which consists of microscopic holes to hide the interior lighting until it's turned on, which then shines
through what appeares to be solid aluminium. The Agera has been in production since late 2010.
[9][10]

Koenigsegg initially based its custom engine builds on a V8 engine block from Ford Racing. These
engines powered the initial run of CC monikered cars. The block for the 4800cc V8 in the CCX
(Competition Coupe Ten, to celebrate ten years of the company) was cast for Koenigsegg by
Grainger & Worrall of the UK who also casts the block for the Agera R's 5.0-litre engine
[11]

List of Models[edit]

Koenigsegg CC (1996) Prototype

Koenigsegg CC8S (2002-2003) 6 units (2 right hand drive) - 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) under

[12]

3.5 sec. Top speed 390 km/h (240 mph)

[13]

Koenigsegg CCR (2004-2006) 14 units - 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) 3.2 sec. Top speed 395+
km/h (242+ mph)

[14]

Koenigsegg CCGT (2007) 1 unit created for the sole purpose of competing in the FIA GT1

Koenigsegg CCX (2006-2010) 14 units - 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) 3.2 sec. Top speed 395+

[15]

km/h (245+ mph)

[16][17]

Koenigsegg CCXR (2007-2010) - 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) 3.1 sec. Top speed 400+ km/h
(250+ mph)

[18]

Koenigsegg CCXR Special Edition (2007) 2 units

Koenigsegg CCX Edition (2008) 2 units

Koenigsegg CCXR Edition (2008) 4 units

Koenigsegg Quant (2009) Solar Concept

[20]

[21]

[22]

[19]

Koenigsegg Trevita (2009-2010) 3 units - 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) 2.9 sec Top speed 410+
km/h (254+ mph)

[23]

Koenigsegg CCR Evolution (2011) 1 unit modified by EDO Competition

Koenigsegg Agera (2010-2013) - 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) 2.9 sec. Top speed 410+ km/h
(254+ mph)

[24]

[25]

Koenigsegg Agera R (2011-2014) 18 units - (2011present) 0-200 km/h (124 mph) 7.8 sec
Top speed 410+ km/h (254+ mph)

[26]

Koenigsegg Agera R BLT (2012) 1 unit

Koenigsegg Agera X (2012) 88 car manufactured

Koenigsegg Agera S (2012-2014) 5 units - (2013present) 0-200 km/h (124 mph) 7.9 sec
Top speed 410+ km/h (254+ mph)

[27]

[28]

[29]

Koenigsegg Agera S Hundra 100 (2013) 100 car manufactured

Koenigsegg One:1 (2014-present) 6 units + 1 prototype - 0-400 km/h (248 mph) 20 sec. Top
speed 410+ km/h (254+ mph)

[30]

[31][32][33]

Koenigsegg Agera RS (2015-present) 25 units

Koenigsegg Regera (2015-present) 80 units

[34]

[35]

Records[edit]

Koenigsegg CCR at Broughtons, Berkshire, UK

On 28 February 2005, at 12:08 hrs local time, in Nard, Italy, the CCR broke the Guinness record for
the fastest production car in the world, having attained 241.63 mph (388.87 km/h) on the Nard
Ring (a circular track of 7.8 mi (12.6 km) circumference), breaking the record previously held by
the McLaren F1. The record was held until September 2005 when the long awaited Bugatti
[36][37]

Veyron broke the record again at 253.81 mph (408.47 km/h), proven by Car and Driver and BBC Top
Gear. Both the record set by Bugatti and the one set by McLaren were set on Volkswagen's own
test-track Ehra-Lessien, which features a 5.6 miles (9.0 km) straight.
[38]

During its review of the CCX, BBC television program Top Gear reported that the Koenigsegg CCR
holds the fastest speeding ticket in the United States, which was supposedly for 242 mph (389 km/h)
in a 75 mph (121 km/h) zone. This allegedly occurred in May 2003 in west Texas on the San
Francisco to Miami Gumball 3000 Rally. It turned out the car was actually a Koenigsegg CC8S, as
the CCR first entered production the year after the incident.
[39]

[40]

When it was first introduced, the Koenigsegg CCXR held the power-to-weight ratio record
for production cars, with a power-to-weight ratio of 1.3 kg (2.9 lb)/hp. This record was later held by
the Koenigsegg One:1, with a power-to-weight ratio of 1 kg (2.2 lb)/hp.
In 2008 the German magazine sport auto conducted a 03000 km/h (01860 mph) test for
production cars, with the CCX winning the event in a total time of 29.2 seconds.
[41]

In September 2011 the Koenigsegg Agera R broke the Guinness World Record - 0-300 km/h with a
time of just 14.53 seconds.
[42]

Awards[edit]

Top Gear - Award 2010 - The Agera becomes BBCs Top Gear Hypercar of the Year, beating
cars such as the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport

Red Dot - Award for excellent Design

National Swedish Design Prize - Utmrkt Svensk Form

Entrepreneur of the Year Nomination - Fretagarna Sweden

Powercar - Superexotic import of the year 2007 and 2008 - Germany

Nrburgring - speed record

Top Gear - speed record

Nardo - speed record

Sport Auto - slalom record

Sport Auto - Hockenheimring speed record

Sport Auto - 0200 km/h record

Sport Auto - 0300 km/h record

Sport Auto - 0-300-0 km/h record

References[edit]
1.

Jump up^ "Official website of the Swedish super sports car manufacuturer". Koenigsegg. Retrieved 2010-04-17.

2.

Jump up^ Elliott, Hannah (2009-03-26). "World's Most Beautiful Cars". Forbes. Retrieved2014-02-27.

3.

Jump up^ Kolberg, Jon Einar (2005-12-16). "Superbilen Koenigsegg blir norsk" [Supercar Koenigsegg is Norwegian] (in Norwegian).
Nettavisen.no. Retrieved 2009-06-16.

4.

Jump up^ Ram, Vidya (2009-06-16). "Koenigsegg Offers Saab Salvation". Forbes.com. Retrieved 2009-06-16.

5.

Jump up^ Ek, Veronica; Nordenstam, Sven (2009-06-17). "Sweden: General Motors Sells Saab to Koenigsegg". Die Welt.
Retrieved 2014-02-27.

6.

Jump up^ "Koenigsegg - press release". Cision Wire. Retrieved 2009-09-09.

7.

Jump up^ Krisher, Tom; Durbin, Dee-Ann, "Saab future unclear as sale to Swedish firm fails",Yahoo News (Associated Press),
retrieved 2009-11-24

8.

Jump up^ Koenigsegg Trevita - The Shimmering Diamond, Automoblog.net

9.

Jump up^ "Koenigsegg Agera Unleashed at Geneva". Automoblog.net.

10.

Jump up^ "Spirit of performance - Koenigsegg" (PDF). koenigsegg.com.

11.

Jump up^ Chaterji, Pablo (2007-04-16). "Two words: Koenigsegg driven. Grainger and Worrall also cast the block for the Bugatti
Veyron.". Business Standard Motoring. Retrieved2014-07-04.

12.

Jump up^ http://koenigsegg.com/cc-prototype/

13.

Jump up^ Koenigsegg Oficial - CC8S

14.

Jump up^ Koenigsegg Oficial - CCR

15.

Jump up^ Koenigsegg Oficial - CCGT

16.

Jump up^ Osborne, Donald (February 2013). "2008 Koenigsegg CCX". Sports Car Market 25 (2): 4849.

17.

Jump up^ Koenigsegg Oficial - CCX

18.

Jump up^ Koenigsegg Oficial - CCXR

19.

Jump up^ Koenigsegg Oficial - CCXR Special Edition

20.

Jump up^ Koenigsegg Oficial - CCX Edition

21.

Jump up^ Koenigsegg Oficial - CCXR Edition

22.

Jump up^ Geneva 2009: NLV Quant by Koenigsegg

23.

Jump up^ Koenigsegg Oficial - Trevita

24.

Jump up^ Artigo Top Speed - 2011 Koenigsegg CCR Evolution By Edo Competition

25.

Jump up^ Koenigsegg Oficial - Agera

26.

Jump up^ Koenigsegg Oficial - Agera R

27.

Jump up^ Top Gear - "Koenigsegg Agera R BLT leaves for China"

28.

Jump up^ Terra Economia - "With 927 hp, single Agera X is on sale for R $ 2.4 mi"(Portuguese)

29.

Jump up^ Koenigsegg Oficial - Agera S

30.

Jump up^ Koenigsegg Oficial Press Release - Koenigsegg from 0 to 100 in 10 Year

31.

Jump up^ Quatro Rodas - "Koenigsegg One: 1 will have a weight / power ratio equal to one"(Portuguese)

32.

Jump up^ Car and Driver Brasil - "Koenigsegg One: 1 will stop the Internet"(Portuguese)

33.

Jump up^ http://koenigsegg.com/one1/

34.

Jump up^ http://koenigsegg.com/agera-rs/

35.

Jump up^ http://koenigsegg.com/regera/

36.

Jump up^ http://en.bsr.se/about/koenigsegg/

37.

Jump up^ http://autos.in.msn.com/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=5157542&page=22

38.

Jump up^ "Koenigsegg History". Retrieved 2010-12-06.

39.

Jump up^ Koengegg CCRs speeding ticket, myluxury.info, 2007-04-29, retrieved 2008-04-28

40.

Jump up^ Gumball 3000: The Movie, imdb.com, retrieved 2008-04-28

41.

Jump up^ Aktion 0-300-0:Koenigsegg CCX, sportauto-online.de, retrieved 2009-09-16

42.

Jump up^ Pattni, Vijay (2011-12-01). "Koenigsegg Agera R sets world record". Top Gear. Retrieved 2014-07-17.

External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons
has media related
to Koenigsegg vehicles.

Official website

Top Gear Award

[hide]

Koenigsegg

People

Christian von Koenigsegg

Koenigsegg Agera
Koenigsegg Agera R
Current vehicles

Koenigsegg Agera S
Koenigsegg One:1
Koenigsegg Regera

Past vehicles

Koenigsegg CC8S
Koenigsegg CCR

Koenigsegg CCX
Koenigsegg CCXR

Categories:
Companies established in 1994

Swedish brands

Car manufacturers of Sweden